The Press., 1887-04-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Washington, D. C., April q2, 1887.
 There is dearth of news in Washington just at this moment, and public attention is concentrating upon the National Drill, which is only few weeks of now. Prepa- rations at the camp ground and the drill ground are underway, the list of ,entries for participation in the contest is quite large, and the indications are that there will be an immense crowd of visitors from all parts of the United States to witness the novel event, as well as grand gather. ing of citizen soldiery. ea
 The largest meeting of the bench and bar ever held in this city took place at the City Hall through respect to the memory of the late Judge Carter. The death of the chief justice removes an historic and prominent figure from the district bench, aud from Washington's list of notable men. He was political power in the early days of the republican party, the close friend and adviser of President Lincoln, Score tary Stanton and other republican lead CTS, and has been at the head of the dist riot bench since it's creation. He was a man of profound political sagacity and spotless personal character, while his pow CTS as a speaker might be characterized by breadth of information, brightness of wit, and force of diction, the effect of which was scarcely lessened, if at all, by stam- mering delivery.
 In regard to the vacancy caused by the judges death, which will be filled soon by the president, a member of the bar said that the lawyers of the district were 80 much dise usted because their wishes were not consulted in the last appointment that it was doubtful what action they would take or whether they would take any. He referred to the appointment of Judge Mont9 9omery, MT. Cleveland's late oommis- sioner of patents, who failed so signally in that capacity that he felt compelled to re- sign and seek a snug nest in another branch of the service.
 Rev. Dr. Burchard has been on a visit
 to Washington, but did not go to the White
 House, as most visitors to the capital do.
 He is the clergyman, you remember, who distinguished himself during the president
 ial campaign of 'S4 by characterizing the
 democratic party as the party of rum,
 romauism and rebellion" He preached
 last Sunday in Rev. Dr. Newman's church,
 the Metropolitan, aud was the object of a good deal of curious attention, the people being anxio1s to see the man of "the thfee
 r's." His friends, including the president's B pastor, Or. Sunderland insisted upon his
 calling upon MT. Cleveland, for whom he
 was accused of having done SO much, but
 he declined to go.
 ], Three times a week at one o'clock D. m
 President Cleveland comes down to the east
 room to shake hands with the people who have gathered there for this purpose. The crowd, which is composed principally of visitors to the city, is controlled, as to size, much by the weather, averages from one
 to four hundred persons each day. Usual. ly the reception passes off without any in, al fD } dents satisfaction. For instance. yesterday he was very much annoyed by half dozen } newspaper youths who stood near him and commented npon the callers attending hit B reception. Their remarks were audible 7 and they had something to say about pv B cry individual who passed by. Of courss such conduct was totally devoid of good 8 breeding and full of unkindness of spirit and the president administered to tn, 3 group of would be wits the only rebuke ir i. his power, which was to turn and look TO 2 proachfully at them several times.
 : Among the many memorable anniversa ries connected with that exciting period a - the close of the war with which the pas ] week has been full, was that of emancipa ] tion. The day IS always celebrated in th' 0 District of Columbia with considerable dis @ play ,and this time preparations were mad e for unusually large festivities. Just at tn hour they were to have commenced wit i unprecedented "pomp and circumstance, !. everything collapsed with pitless rain t fall, and our colored citizens got little aaI l. isfaction out of their parade. Plume D dropped, sashes were bedraggled, and bau d ners, dripping and wet, refused to play [ o the breeze. Only section of the lon y procession that was to have been fell int t line and passed in review by the president e The o1h .usted and drOwuy feelings, ,oOmmO